Sound device for toy airplanes



Feb. 24, 1948. B. P. WATTS vSOUND DEVICE FOR TOY AIRPLANES File'l March 20, 1946 INVENTOR. ef'/ P V/S W7@ 6%@ Patented Feb. 242 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT 'OFFICE SOUND FOR TOY AIRPLANES Berl P. Watts, Oakland, Calif. Application March 20, 1946, Serial No.'655j,675 'l (Cl. 1G-52) 2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to toys capable oi aerial flight and has particular reference to sound devices to be used with such toys for simulating motor and propeller night noises vof actual airplanes.

An object of the invention is to provide a iightactuated sound device for toys of the character described which is capable of emitting a train of comparatively low-frequency pulsations designed to approximate the pitch of the sound emanating'from an actual airplane in flight.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sound generating device, for use with aerial ying toys, which is capable, when in operation, of imparting to the body of the toy reactionary vibrations capable of creating in the air through which the toy is` iiying sound-producing undulations in addition to those created directly bythe sound generating device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sound generating device of the character de-l scribed which is arranged to be contained entirely within the body of a structural element of the toy in such a manner that nothing is added to the normal frontal resistance of the element to ight through the air.

Still another object of the invention is to pro- .vide a sound generating device for aerial flying toys which is capable of producing vibratory pulsations in a large volume of air. as compared with the bulk of the toy, without substantially upsetting the static or flight balances of the toy.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage. some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specication. It is to be understood, however. that variations in the showing made by the said drawings and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a toy airplane in which the sound device of my invention is embodied.

Figure 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the end portion of the wing showing the means for attaching the sound device thereto.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken in the plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken in the plane indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a toy airplane showing the application thereto of multiple sound devices.

In carrying out my invention I provide a toy simulating an aeronautical vdevice which for the purposes of thisdescription I have chosen to illustrate as an airplane having a fuselage 6, a flight -wing l," and horizontal and vertical stabilizers 8 and 9 respectively allof which may be constructed of balsa wood, sheet ber or any other lightweight material possessing adequate structuralr strength andv rigidity. The various parts of the toy may be assembled in permanent or relatively demountable relationship as desired. I provide a bridle I lcomprisingfafilexible cord of any desired length T4which` has-one end thereof secured to the toy, preferably at" the outer end of the wing member 1. Thefffree end of the bridle may be grasped in the lhand ofthe operator. Although I have shown thebridle attached to the end of the wing member Ait is possible to' secure it to other points on the 'toy body provided that a dominating portion of the weight of the toy lies beyond the vpoint-ofl attachment and that the plane of the cord intersects 'of the toy.

The sound generating device of my invention -i's adapted for mounting in various parts ofthe 'toy butI haveffound that the wing member T -provides' thepreferred location for the device. In the drawing I have shown the wing member provided with at least one elongated rectangular aperture I2, the ends I3 of which, extending transversely of the Wingspan, are enclosed in channel-shaped metal reinforcing caps I4. Each of these caps is provided, centrally of the vertical web I6 thereof, with an aperture I1 in which is journaled a shaft I8 secured to a sheetY metal rotor I9 disposed and rotatable in the aperture I2. The shafts I8 are secured in the rotor by shearing from the body of the latter a plurality of oppositely embossed straps 2l' which are relatively spaced vertically to forman extended pocket in which the shaft is received after which the straps are squeezed together in a vertical direction so as to iirmly and frictionally secure the shaft in place. Washers 22 concentric with the shafts I8 and interposed between the ends of the rotor I9 and the caps I4 insure free rotation of the rotor in the aperture I2. The longitudinal edges of the rotor are each provided with integral and oppositely curved scoops 23 which function, when the wing is moved edgewise through the air, to successively create a greater pressure ofthe air stream against one radial blade of the rotor than against the other with the rethe fore and aft center of gravity sult that the rotor will be rotated in the aperture I2 at a speed proportionate to the velocity of movement of the wing through the air. In order to reduce the inertia o f the rotor and to insure rotation thereof at comparatively low wing velocities, it is contemplated to construct the ro tor of aluminum or an alloy thereof or to use other similarly lightweight materials which will provide the -necessary 'rigidity :and :structural strength. -v

In operation, the toy is flown by swinging it in a circular orbital path at the end of a desired length of bridle Il which determines.the.radius of the orbit. During this flight movement of the toy, the rotor will rapidly revolve .anrifwill create pulsating disturbances .of .thev..ar;. through which it is moving which "have a 'frequency equal to double the rate of rotation of. the irotor. Upon reference toFigure 4, it will be readily seen how these .pulsationsoccun ywhen .the rotor is in its full-line position shown .the view, the `frontal `.resistance .of .the wingtomove- .ment lthrough the `air will be .at a .minimum However, .as the vrotor `moves .through v.its .iirst quarter .of revolution, .to 'the ,dotted yline ,posi- .tion thereof, the frontal resistance will build 4up .to a maximum .degree .and :a .value .depending upon .the area .of .theroton -will .cause .air before the advancing rotor 4to .be `compressed, which .compression .again .drops '5to .a .minimum as .the rotor completes -`its .first hal! :revolution .and ,is .again concealed .withintheewing .A similar eiect will .occur .for v.the ,Ynal .half .revolution of .the .'rotor. kThe :resulting pulsations `imparted tothe air will v.be .impressed A.zon `ears of bystandersas an .audible tone .possessing a ppitch depending upon .the ,speed ...oi .rotation ,of

.the rotor. This tone, -by..suta.ble .design of .the .rotor may kbe Lmade to. closely ...approximate the tone given otr .by airplanein power .flight It will also be seen that the..pu1sations created by the rotors will .create ,asimilar reactionary .vibration .of vall .surfaces .of .the .toy ,structure which are in contact with the air thus ,greatly increasingy .the volumezof vairs :iistnrbed..ax1d...consequently .materially .amplitying'the :volume vof sound. .The pitch .of lthe:.sonn d .may Lof -nourse be varied Lby :speeding up .or .slowing ...down `the 4 velocity of the toy along its orbital path of movement.

In Figure 5 I have shown a toy airplane designed to produce a maximum volume of sound when in ilight. In this modification I provide the wing 24 with duplicate sound rotors I9 so that a substantial area of the wing is made up of the sound generating elements. The rotors iinfthis form of the invention' and the fmountings itherefor, are :identical :with .those previously described.

Having thus described my invention in detail, what l.claim as new and desire to secure "by Letters Patent is:

:1. In anaerial iiying toy having a wing pro- -vided with an aperture, means associated with said toy for moving the latter through the air .in .controlled flight, and a rotor journaled on rwith journals, a rotor-comprisingzahplane mem- ,her having .shafts engaging .said journals and freelyrotatable about an axisinits own plane,

' inthe plane of the wing and perpendicular to .the -direction of flight-oi the toy.:said Arotor: in operation causing a buzzing or'whirring sound .torba-emitted.

.BERL .P. WATTS.

,REFERENCES CITED 'The :following references areof record in the le of thispatent:

`UNITED STATES PATENTS Main r-Nov. T26, 1940 

